The BMW national teams had travelled to Imola for races seven and eight of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) without nurturing any great hopes. As in Silverstone a fortnight go, the BMW drivers had to line up with a weight handicap of 20 kilograms compared to their front-wheel-drive rivals. But after the races at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, a victory by Dirk Müller (GER) of BMW Team Deutschland and four podium places add another good overall result to the tally.
Driving in temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, Antonio Garcia (ESP) for BMW Team Italy-Spain managed to finish as runner-up in the first race behind Fabrizio Giovanardi (Alfa Romeo). Third-placed finisher Dirk Müller joined him on the podium. The reigning European Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx (GBR) of BMW Team UK came fourth, while Garcia's team-mate, local hero Alessandro Zanardi (ITA), crossed the line in eighth place to capture a World Championship point. BMW Team Deutschland driver Jörg Müller (GER) finished in 27th place following an accident.
After the second race, Dirk Müller climbed to the very top of the podium to celebrate his second victory of the season. Behind him in second and third places were Priaulx and Giovanardi. Zanardi, who had started from pole, remained in third place for much of the race before being bumped off the track by Augusto Farfus jr. (Alfa Romeo) on the final lap. He eventually crossed the line in sixth place. Even so, for Zanardi it was the best result of his touring car career. Garcia finished ninth, while Jörg Müller worked his way from the back of the field into twelfth place.
With that, both Dirk Müller and BMW managed to defend their lead in the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships. With 47 points, Dirk Müller is now six points ahead of Priaulx. In third place is Alfa driver Gabriele Tarquini. In the Manufacturers' standings, BMW now has a tally of 113 points. Alfa Romeo is in second place with 100, followed by SEAT (75). Both wins in the Independents' Trophy at Imola went to Alessandro Balzan (SEAT). Nevertheless, Marc Hennerici (Mayen) managed to retain his lead among the privateer drivers in his BMW 320i.
Reactions:
Dirk Müller (BMW Team Deutschland): "I'm absolutely over the moon. In between the two races, the team made some very good changes to the car. I have to thank them for that. The car was driving much better in the second race, which made it possible for me to win. Our perfect starts were definitely a crucial factor. In both races I managed to gain several positions right off the grid. I'm delighted to be able to take these 15 World Championship points home with me as we weren't really banking on it under the difficult circumstances here in Imola. Now I'm looking forward to the races in Mexico."
Alessandro Zanardi (BMW Team Italy-Spain): "Today we have seen that our car is competitive. My team has been working hard towards this in recent months. Towards the end of the race I began having problems with the brakes, and my tyres were no longer in the best condition. It's a pity I lost my podium place in the second race only four turns before the finish. Augusto Farfus was fighting tooth and nail to try and get past me. This ended up in a collision. Now neither of us is on the podium. Nevertheless, we have to continue on from this successful weekend."
Race 1
Weather Sunny, 30 degrees CelsiusStart After Peter Terting's SEAT has to have its engine replaced, Dirk Müller, Jörg Müller and Zanardi each gain a position on the grid. Garcia gets off to a good start and snatches the lead from Giovanardi. Priaulx similarly enjoys a perfect start, advancing from fifth to second. Dirk Müller is in fourth place and Zanardi in eighth.Lap 1 In the first turn Jörg Müller is touched by James Thompson (Alfa Romeo) and skids into the gravel. Following a tyre replacement in the pits, he rejoins the race at the back of the field. Giovanardi passes Priaulx, who is now lying in third place.Lap 2 Garcia is forced to let Giovanardi past in a car that is lighter by a full 30 kilograms.Lap 7 Sascha Plöderl (Ford) hits the crash barrier at high speed as he enters the start/finish straight. Fortunately he emerges unscathed from his completely wrecked car. Lap 10 Dirk Müller whittles the gap to Priaulx down to 0.437 seconds.Finish Giovanardi wins ahead of Garcia, Priaulx and Dirk Müller. Zanardi finishes eighth to take a World Championship point and secures pole position for the second race. Jörg Müller crosses the start/finish line in 27th place. Following repair work to the rear suspension of his BMW 320i, he has to start the second race from the pit lane.
Race 2
Weather Sunny, 30 degrees CelsiusStart Zanardi manages to defend his leading position on the grid. The other drivers of the BMW national teams also get away well from the grid for the second race: Dirk Müller moves from fifth into second place, with Priaulx behind him. Garcia is in fifth place while Jörg Müller is chasing the field from the pit lane. Lap 3 Dirk Müller sweeps past Zanardi to take the lead.Lap 4. Zanardi has to concede a place to Priaulx as well, who now sets off in chase of Dirk Müller. Garcia briefly comes off the track after a close encounter with Giovanardi and loses four places.Lap 10 Zanardi has managed to keep his pursuer Farfus at bay for a long time, but the Brazilian is now snapping at the heels of BMW Team Italy-Spain's driver.Lap 11 On the final lap Zanardi is pushed off the track by Farfus, causing the Italian to drop back into sixth place. Finish Shortly before the finish Priaulx puts Dirk Müller under pressure again, but fails to get past the German. Dirk Müller wins ahead of his British fellow BMW driver. Zanardi is sixth and Garcia crosses the line in ninth place. Jörg Müller's recovery exercise ends in twelfth place.
Results
BMW Team Deutschland - Schnitzer Motorsport No. 42 - Jörg Müller (GER) Grid: 12th - Races: 27th and 12th No. 43 - Dirk Müller (GER) Grid: 7th - Races: 4th and 1st
BMW Team UK - RBM No. 1 - Andy Priaulx (GBR) Grid: 5th - Races: 3rd and 2nd
BMW Team Italy-Spain - ROAL MotorsportNo. 4 - Alex Zanardi (ITA) Grid: 13th - Races: 8th and 6th No. 5 - Antonio Garcia (ESP) Grid: 2nd - Races: 2nd and 9th
BMW private teamsCrawford Racing - No. 28 - Carl Rosenblad (SWE) Races: 16th and DNFProteam Motorsport - No. 30 - Stefano d'Aste (ITA) Races: 22nd and 16th - No. 31 - Giuseppe Ciro (ITA) Races: DNF and DNSWiechers-Sport - No. 32 - Marc Hennerici (GER) Races: DNF both races GDL Racing - No. 53 - Gianluca de Lorenzi (ITA) Races: 21st and 18th Zerocinque Motorsp. - No. 54 - Stefano Valli (RSM) Races: 24th and DNF
Results Race 1: 1st Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA/Alfa Romeo) 22:12.202 minutes, 2nd Antonio Garcia (ESP/BMW 320i) +3.146 seconds, 3rd Andy Priaulx (GBR/BMW 320i) +8.131, 4th Dirk Müller (GER, BMW 320i) +9.126, 5th Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA/Alfa Romeo) +12.299, 6th Roberto Colciago (ITA/Honda) +15.175, 7th James Thompson (GBR, Alfa Romeo) +16.995, 8th Alessandro Zanardi (ITA/BMW 320i) +17.476, ?27th Jörg Müller (GER/BMW 320i) +1 lap
Results Race 2: 1st Dirk Müller (GER, BMW 320i) 22:17.549 minutes, 2nd Andy Priaulx (GBR/BMW 320i) +2.027 seconds, 3rd Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA/Alfa Romeo) +5.822, 4th Rickard Rydell (SWE/SEAT) +6.786, 5th Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA/Alfa Romeo) +8.795, 6th Alessandro Zanardi (ITA/BMW 320i) +10.447, 7. Peter Terting (GER/SEAT) +10.713, 8th Jason Plato (GBR, SEAT) +11.135, 9th Antonio Garcia (ESP/BMW 320i) +12.115, ?12th Jörg Müller (GER/BMW 320i) +15.805
Drivers' standings after 8 out of 20 races: 1st Dirk Müller 47 points, 2nd Andy Priaulx 41, 3rd Gabriele Tarquini 30, 4th Augusto Farfus jr. 29, 5th Fabrizio Giovanardi 29, 6th Jörg Müller 27, 7th Antonio Garcia 27, 8th Rickard Rydell 24, 9th James Thompson 22, 10th Jordi Gené 12, 11th Jason Plato 10, 12th Alessandro Zanardi 6, 13th Peter Terting 5, 14th Roberto Colciago 3
Manufacturers' standings after 8 out of 20 races: 1st BMW 113, 2nd Alfa Romeo 100, 3rd SEAT 75, 4th Chevrolet 22, 5th Ford 2Next race: Puebla, Mexico (26th June 2005)
